$0.00

That's what the next round of credit card statements I get should read! I am done! I have been in a debt consolidation program for the last four years, and I just made my last payment today. I am so happy I want to cry!

I let my credit card debt snowball, starting in college. I would pay my bills with my credit cards. While I lived in Connecticut, I shopped all the time because I was so bored and lonely up there. And then a few years ago, my ex-boyfriend decided to max a few cards out before he fell off the face of the earth. Then I would start the whole balance transfer game or just skip payments because I couldn't afford it anymore.

It's been really hard living like this. I have to pay for mostly everything in cash. I haven't had a real vacation in years. I went from being a shopaholic to someone who hates malls because I hate seeing all the stuff I can't afford. I was barely making it paycheck to paycheck until I moved in with my mom a few years ago. But now I can pay off a few bills from the holidays (I still have my Macy's card!) and I can start saving up so I can afford a new car and a place of my own. I've been waiting for this day for so long! It feels like I lost 200 pounds!